LumberJocks Woodworking Reviews

Being a sucker for new tools, when I got an e-mail for this I couldn’t pass it up for the price.
You want to check the depth of a dado or a rabbet? This little thing will do the job. Make a little “U” shaped block with a hole thought it and then use it to straddle your saw blade or router bit and use it to set your depth of cut.
One real nice thing about it is the tab on the back. It’s exactly like the one your find on the back of dial indicators so you can mount...

Many of the items I work with in my shop require the shaping and cutting of small parts. These might be small boards for boxes or parts for toys. I have always found it a little nerve racking when I needed to cut a rabbet or shape small pieces, as I do not like my fingers so close to a blade. I have used clamps to perform the job but never felt like I had much control when working the pieces. Last year, I found this item on the PriceCutters website (now merged with Eagle America) and found th...

I starting out life working in my fathers machine shop while I went to school, we always used the inch decimal system for everything. I still use it to this day. My favorite scale is a flexible 24” that reads in fractions on one side and decimal on the other. Working with decimals is so much easier. How many people know what comes after 27/64’s?
I always had to revert to fractions when ever I used a tape measure until now. I never really looked for a decimal tape measure before...

this review was first posted in our LJ eMag, January 2010
Have you been inspired by the carvers’ projects here at LumberJocks.com, such as the work by Jordan, Mikelknot, and Mark Decou , to name a few? Is “carving a face” on your list of woodworking projects but you just don’t know where to start? Here is a great place to begin—the resource book: “Carving The Human Face”.
With over 250 steps, broken down into eight working sections, the author ...

I got this awhile back and since it was small I specifically placed it where I wouldn’t forget. Yea, right—you older folks know what happened. I finally stumbled upon it and will never decipher the irrational thought process I used to tuck it away. It’s sad when you amuse yourself in this manner. Anyway, about the Kerfmaker (disclaimer-no ties, connections or compensation and paid full price) However if the manufacturer feels inclined to toss me a bone, I’ll gladly pim...

I’ve had this for a few weeks now and have used it to finish up two projects. Many things to love and a few minor irritations.
The saw was an upgrade from a Steel City Hybrid (the one just before the granite and the riving knives) which is what I have to compare against.
Power and Cutting WoodFirst, the SawStop is not a hybrid so off to have 220V installed; wish I had done that sooner – I also rewired the bandsaw and nothing has tripped since. The plug is a ‘standard...

Last fall I went to visit Chuck Bender's shop and to meet Glen Huey Glen is the Senior Editor for Popular Woodworking Magazine.
Glen was teaching a class on a Tea Table that belinged to his mother and had been in his home for as long as he could remember. The plans have been published in Popular Woodworking Magazine.
This review has nothing to do with the table. It’s just a lead in to me meeting Glen. A great guy and of course Chuck is also.
While I was there chatting with Glen...

When I moved into the new house I had to set up my “spray” area near to a hot water heater… That pretty much eliminated any chance I had of spraying flammable liquids. Since I don’t have a dedicated work shop I needed a water based finish I could count on. I’ve tried many of the brands you can get from the box stores and they always had that blue tinge to them that drove me nuts on naturally finished wood. Sure I can get away with blue drums but I didn’t wa...

I was surprised I didn’t see a review for this one…
In the world of drum building (and probably most woodworking in general) tung oil is the gateway drug to finishing. It’s pretty much impossible to screw up and while it takes forever to apply in amounts that actually build up, you end up with a fantastic finish.
Myself… well I’m a little impatient when it comes to finishing. When I do use an oil finish I want it to build quickly, fumes be darned. Waterlox ...